What do you all do for your geese to keep them warm for winter?

Hi all, this is my frist winter with geese (I have 3 Africans) anyway I don't really know what to do for them druing winter My dad says that when he had geese all he did was feed them and they did ok but im a big worry wart so what all do you guys do for your geese druing during winter? Oh and by the way I live in Missouri so we often get temperature extremes

Not a thing. And I'm in Michigan. Our winter is colder and longer than Missouri even thinks about.

Your geese should have feed and adequate shelter available year-round and if that's the case nothing need change in the winter months. Feed will provide energy for them to keep warm, shelter will protect them from any elements they desire to get out of. (Mine never use shelter, btw, but it's there should they want it.)

I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day. - E.B. White

No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. - Eleanor Roosevelt

The best way to be missed when you're gone is to stand for something while you're here. - Seth Godin

My geese are free to do what they want and go where they want when ever they want so they don't really have a pen and shelter are trees and bushes ok shelter or do I need to make something for them? Oh guess they could go in the old barn if they really wanted too! Do I need to give them water every day like my call ducks and chickens or will they eat snow or something ? Thanks

Geese have THICK down. They do much better in winter than most other barnyard critters..
Sometimes i will bring them out some warm food..oatmeal..etc. but thats about it.
If there is a major blizzard out than i just leave them in their house...just to be safe.

Edited by redhen - 12/8/10 at 3:00pm

I prefer an ugly truth to a pretty lie. If someone is telling me the truth that is when i will give my heart. ~ Jack Nicholson

Yes, they need water. Could they eat snow? Yes, but it would take a LOT of snow eating to stay hydrated. Should they have to as domestic animals under the care of a human? No. They should have drinking water available daily.

The trees and bushes should be enough. If not simple A-frame structure can be constructed from free pallets -- come breeding season they may appreciate it as a nesting area, too.

I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day. - E.B. White

No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. - Eleanor Roosevelt

The best way to be missed when you're gone is to stand for something while you're here. - Seth Godin

Yes, they need water. Could they eat snow? Yes, but it would take a LOT of snow eating to stay hydrated. Should they have to as domestic animals under the care of a human? No. They should have drinking water available daily.

The trees and bushes should be enough. If not simple A-frame structure can be constructed from free pallets -- come breeding season they may appreciate it as a nesting area, too.

Okie dokie they have a big pond that has not froze yet so they have water and 80 acers of trees and bushes, but i will get my dad to help me make a A-frame structure and I will put a rubber tub of unfroze water and feed under it

My geese are FURIOUS with me if I leave them in the pen during the day---even if it the weather if brutally cold & below zero. I usually prop the door open, and the geese/ducks run out into the snow---no matter how cold it is they only return to the pen at dusk. They will sit in snow or on ice all day long in the harshest of conditions. The chickens are a bit more wimpy. They will dash out in the snow, peck around a little, and dash back into the pen.

The only time my geese don't get out in the Winter is when I don't want to go outside because its too cold for me!

My geese are outside year around and I am in Kansas. If the weather is snowy, icy, I just provide dry hay and they do great. We've had 12 inches of snow and they stand up and shake off and lay back down. I have never lost any geese to the weather. Keeping dry hay under them is where I think helps keep them warm. I do have shuttles if they want to go in and they choose to sleep outside.

Our goose Kow-kow stays outside all the time. No heat lamp, etc. We live near Houston, so our winters aren't especially bitter. We made him a little structure to block the wind and keep his hay dry for him. Other than that, he's in his pool half the time, honkin' away.

I figure if all those geese fly down HERE to hang out in the rice fields all winter, this silly goose should be just fine.